The new boys of summer : baseball's radical transformation in the late sixties / Paul Hensler.

Format:

Book

Author/Creator:

Hensler, Paul, 1956- author.

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

Baseball--United States--History--20th century.

Baseball.

United States.

History.

Genre:

History.

Physical Description:

xiv, 301 pages : illustrations ; 23 cm

Place of Publication:

Lanham, Maryland : Rowman & Littlefield, [2017]

Summary:

In The New Boys of Summer: Baseball's Radical Transformation in the Late Sixties, Paul Hensler looks at the key issues confronting baseball during this tumultuous time in American history. He carefully examines how domestic racial issues, the war in Vietnam, assassinations of prominent public figures, youthful rebellion, and drug use each placed their imprint on the game just as baseball was about to celebrate its centennial season. The expansion of the American and National leagues, the new divisional alignments, and major rule changes that were implemented in 1969 are also covered in depth. Other factors impacting the national pastime include the appointment of Bowie Kuhn as commissioner, the construction of modern stadiums, and the rapid developments in information technology. An earlier generation of players was venerated as the Boys of Summer, and indeed, they continue to hold their rightful place in baseball's legend and lore; but in the late 1960s, a fresh cast of characters made their own mark as transformations in the game brought baseball into the new modern era. Baseball historians and fans alike will be entertained and informed by this fresh look at the national pastime in the decade of discontent Book jacket.

Contents:

1 At the Threshold 1

2 The Demand to Expand 7

3 American League Expansion: One Up, One Down 17

4 National League Expansion: One Up, One Almost Down 37

5 The Commissioners: An Unknown Soldier and an Unknown Lawyer 55

6 Marvin Miller Comes to Play 79

7 Race, War, Politics, and Cultural Zeitgeist 107

8 On the Way Out ... and Up and Coming 147

9 The Year of the Pitcher, and Changes to the Rules 175

10 From Ballparks to Stadiums 197

11 Does IT Matter? The Rise of the Information Age 219.

Notes:

Includes bibliographical references and index.

Other Format:

Online version: Hensler, Paul, 1956- author. New boys of summer

ISBN:

9781538102596

1538102595

OCLC:

979567763